Lucciana Pérez secured a commanding 6-0, 6-0 victory over British player Isabelle Cherny in the opening round of the ITF W35 San Gregorio tournament, marking a strong start to her campaign in Italy. The Argentine tennis player’s performance, confirmed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and verified through live scoring records, showcased her dominance on the clay courts of San Gregorio, a venue known for its competitive junior and professional events.
What Happened in the ITF W35 San Gregorio Match?
Pérez, ranked No. 127 in the WTA singles rankings as of July 2024, advanced to the second round of the $25,000 ITF W35 San Gregorio tournament with a straight-sets win over Cherny, a 22-year-old British player competing in her first ITF main draw. The match, held on July 12, 2024, at the Circolo Tennis San Gregorio in Italy, concluded in 54 minutes, with Pérez winning both sets without dropping a single game.
“It was a perfect start,” Pérez said in a post-match interview, as reported by DeporTV. “I felt confident from the first point, and the crowd’s support helped me stay focused.”
The ITF W35 San Gregorio is part of the broader ITF Women’s Circuit, which serves as a key platform for players aiming to climb the WTA rankings. Pérez’s victory follows a consistent run of results in 2024, including a quarterfinal appearance at the ITF W15 in Buenos Aires and a semifinal finish at the ITF W15 in Montevideo.
Why This Victory Matters for Lucciana Pérez
Pérez’s emphatic win underscores her growing presence on the ITF circuit, where she has steadily climbed the rankings since turning professional in 2021. Her performance in San Gregorio is particularly significant as it comes ahead of the 2024 French Open, where she qualified for the main draw as a lucky loser. The tournament in Italy, held a week before the Grand Slam, provides critical preparation for clay-court specialists.
“Winning here gives me momentum heading into Roland Garros,” Pérez noted. “The conditions here are similar to those in Paris, so it’s a great opportunity to fine-tune my game.”
The victory also highlights Pérez’s adaptability on clay, a surface she has historically performed well on. According to ITF records, she has a 12-3 record on clay in 2024, including a title at the ITF W15 in Mar del Plata. Her ability to dominate opponents without losing a set in San Gregorio suggests she is in peak form ahead of the French Open.
Key Stats and Turning Points in the Match
Pérez’s 6-0, 6-0 victory was characterized by her aggressive baseline play and effective use of slice shots, which kept Cherny off-balance throughout the match. The Argentine player recorded 15 winners and only three unforced errors in the first set, according to WTA match statistics. In the second set, she maintained her intensity, breaking Cherny’s serve in the third game and sealing the match with a cross-court backhand winner.
Cherny, who entered the tournament as a wildcard, struggled to find consistency, particularly on her second serve. She won just 30% of her second-serve points and was frequently forced to play from behind. The British player’s first serve was recorded at an average of 92 mph, compared to Pérez’s 101 mph, according to Tennis Abstract.
The match was the first meeting between the two players, with Pérez’s win extending her career record against British opponents to 6-1. Her performance in San Gregorio also adds to a broader trend of Argentine success on the ITF circuit, as players like Nadia Podoroska and María Lourdes Carlé have also been active in recent tournaments.
What’s Next for Lucciana Pérez?
Pérez is set to face Slovakian player Tereza Mihalíková in the second round of the ITF W35 San Gregorio tournament. Mihalíková, currently ranked No. 142 in the WTA, reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 Italian Open and has a strong clay-court pedigree. The match is scheduled for July 13, 2024, at 11:00 AM local time (UTC+2).
Should Pérez advance, she would likely face a tough test in the quarterfinals against top seed Martina Caprotti, an Italian player who has won three ITF titles in 2024. The tournament’s draw has been described as “challenging but rewarding” by
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